Pope Francis has called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained in Naypyidaw since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar. In a gesture of support, the Pope also extended an offer for her refuge in the Vatican.
Pope Francis made this appeal in a conversation with Jesuits that took place in Jakarta while on his recent tour of Asia. The details of his request were reported by the Reuters news agency.
"I asked for Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi's release and received her son in Rome. I offered the Vatican to receive her in our territory," the pope said.
The Italian daily Corriere della Sera published the comments on Tuesday in an article by Father Antonio Spadaro, a Rome-based Jesuit priest who attends the meetings and writes about them afterwards with the pope’s permission.
Pope Francis also emphasized that the future of Myanmar must be peace based on respect for the dignity and rights of all, on respect for a democratic order that allows everyone to make their contribution to the common good. The Pope has consistently urged the international community not to forget the ongoing situation in Myanmar following the military coup.
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